Individual Oral Planning Sheet

Developing a plan for an individual oral:

Global Issue: Gender Roles

Works Chosen:

Work in Translation: A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Second Work: The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Notes for the Oral. (Maximum of TEN bullet points.) Key strategies used in the passage to
develop the author’s point about the global issue: *also see does this perhaps in a different
direction share global issue what saying about women

● Issue of the division of gender roles and the negative impact of which it has on an
individual’s freedom is conveyed throughout both passages as its seen to limit the
practice of self expression
● Fear> she describes the water to resemble “white serpents.” ‘Serpents’ in translated
diction used to convey the extent of the character’s fear to the reader. Reluctance to
venture into the sea is representative of women being unable to explore their
individualities and characteristics with freedom. Sea portrayed to be access point to
self expression, is feared at first.
● She feels dread when left in the water by herself and needs the support of a hand for
reassurance. Alludes to the prevalence of women being dependent on men, Edna is
accustomed to being aided. This dependency on men shows how women are provoked
to lose a sense of independence and individuality >must appease the man to remain
secure throughout their life. Similar to a defenseless child, Edna is described as a
“stumbling” child. Works to portray women as the helpless and submissive >men act as
the provider in their society.
● “of a sudden realized its powers” (73). As she describes the setting to have ‘powers’,
this works to portray the water as an escape as she is now empowered in her abilities.
Water is difficult to control and dynamic, yet dark and dangerous. Edna longs for the
freedom which the sea contains as she similarly desires a life without being an object
to control. Setting is symbolic of independence, but original fear is representative of
the dangers of the modern world from a woman’s perspective.
● The idea of persistence, feeling of “exultation” to overcome her. Lacked the emotion
and passion, now ability to achieve the ‘impossible’ empowers her, and instils a craving
passion for freedom as the sea is now seen as seductive and to be calling to her. The
water is symbolic of her life and withholds the idea of reincarnation.if she pursues this
life of freedom of self expression, she will experience a rebirth. easy to drown in the
sea> failure in real life, the opportunity of freedom is alluring. mental awakening.
gender roles are heavily abided towards. newfound freedom as essential and seductive
to Edna.
● The tarantella is symbolic of an aspect of Nora’s personality which she cannot ever
show. It is a trait directly showcasing her true personality, involving passion and energy.
 The dance is in need of self expression in order to embody the spirit of the tarantella.
Itis essential that Nora embraces the calling of her true self in order to perfect the
dance, as it is fiery and contains attitude. When Nora tunes into her self, she is unable
to control it, and does not want to listen to the instructions and controls or demands
given by her husband. This reluctance to listen is representative of her lack of freedom
of self expression for so long, as she is finally able to rid of it. This is alluring to her, and
she does not wish the moment or dance to end, as it is the only time she is not in
control and can be herself.
● allows Nora to lose her façade of the perfect wife. Torvald desires her while watching
her dance, but it is shown for him to enjoy the idea of her performance impressing
others under his control. This shows how appearance is the only valued characteristic
of Nora during their time period, as her own qualities are not valued. Nora wants to
break free and away from this idea, which is expressed through her uncontrolled
dance.
● Nora says that her life depends on the dance. As she does not mean this literally, her
words are symbolic of the life in which she is able to express her true characteristics.
Her life essentially ends as the dance concludes, as she is conformed to fit the trophy
wife status within reality once again.
● Dependency on men is seen in both passages > Nora needs her husband to help her
and practice with her and is desperate for his aid. This portrays women to be helpless
and defenseless, as they had never gained the freedom to explore on their own. Nora is
desperate for Torvald’s help because she believes she needs him to be successful.
However after dancing on her own, this empowers her as the realizes, similar to Edna,
that this is false.
● In a sense, the tarantella to Nora is the sea to Edna, as they both are a symbol of their
lives free of control.